Kafir-corn header



No. 624,798. Patented May 9, I899.-

J. L. HART.

a KAFIR conu HEADER.

[Application filed Nov. 20, 1897.) (No Model.)

3 Shanta-Sheet l.

Patented May 9, I899. J. L. HART. 1 KAFIR CORN HEADER.

(Application filed Nov. 20, 1897.)

. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No'ModeL) V/IIIIIl/lIl/Il/I/ ll) Winesses m: nonms vs'rzns co, Puma-mun, WASHINGTON. 1 0.

No- 624,798. Patented May 9, I899. J. L. HART.

KAFIR CORN HEADER.

' {Application filed Nov. 20, 1897.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I Inward-or:

asses J.L. [arf 1 %1 fw4/ W rrn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. HART, or GRENOLA, KANSAS.

KAFlR-CORN HEADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,798, dated May 9, 1899. Application filed November 20, 1897. Serial No. 659,333. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it'known that 1, JAMES L. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grenola, in the county of Elk and State-of Kansas, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Kafir-Oorn Headers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a machine for harvesting Kafir-corn; and my object is to produce a machine of this character which will cut the upper portion or heads of the stalks containing the grain and load them into the vehicle without any handling whatever by the attendant. The mechanism employed to produce this result may be said to. consist in the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the harvester with the elevator partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a broken vertical section of same, taken on line II II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of the mechanism for operating the elevatorbelts. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of same, taken on line IV IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a a plan View of the elevator. Fig. 6 is a broken section of the drive-wheel and sprocket, taken on line V 1 VI of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a broken vertical section taken on line VII VII of Fig. 1, showing the forward hooked portion of the stationary frame. Fig. 8 is a detail View of a hook formed integral with the forward portion of the reciprocal frame for the purpose of loosely securing same to the stationary frame forming part of the invention.

In constructing my invention I employ a wagon, preferably consisting of a box-body 1, mounted upon carrying-Wheels 2.

Rigidly secured to one of the side-boards 3 of the wagon-body is a stationary skeleton frame, consisting of inclined parallel tracks 4. and 5, braced by obliquely-disposed crossbars 6 6. The forward lower end of one of said bars is secured to two parallel bars 7 and 8, forming the forward portion of the frame and extending upwardly to the upperedge of side-board 3, where bar 7 is bent in the form of a hook 7, which embraces said upper edge and assists in supporting the weight of the frame. The upper portion of the frame consists of a horizontal bar 9, extending rear-- wardly from bar 7 to track 5 to assist in holding the several parts connected therewith in their proper position. I

The several parts of the above-described frame are secured together by rivets or bolts 10, and the frame is rigidly secured to'the wagon by boltslO. I

In order to relieve bolts 10 of a portion of the weight of the frame, I also form the up* per end of track a into a hook like that of bar 7 and secure a hook 11 to track 5 for engagement with the upper edge of the wagon.

Hook 11 is provided with a link 12, which is engaged by the hooked end of a sustainingrod 13, extendingdown obliquely to the opposite lower corner of the wagon-bed, where it is secured to support the side-board carryin the form of a hook 17, which loosely em braces said track and balances the forward portion of the reciprocal frame. Said frame further consists of a vertical bar 18, secured at its lower terminal to the rear portion of bar 16 andextending upwardly a suitable distance,-where it connects with'a transverse bar 19, whichextends rearwardly'and connects to guide-bar 14. This last-mentioned portion of the frame is braced by a bar 20, extending down obliquely from the junction of the bars 18 and 19 to the forward portion of horizontal bar 16, to which it may be riveted or otherwisesecurely fastened.

Securely mounted in an inclined manner upon transverse bar 19 of the reciprocal frame is an elevatoiqconsisting of a floor or bottom portion 21, the lower end of which is supported outwardly in the path of the stalks by a frame hereinafter mentioned. The upper end of the floor extends over the inside of the wagon body, so the contents of the elevator will be discharged therein. Said floor is provided with a sheet-metal rear side portion 22, which extends from the upper end of the floor down around to the front end of a curved cuttingknife 23, secured to the lower end of the floor, to sever-the stalks. The floor portion 21 is also provided with a longitudinal board 24, forming a channel 25 between it and the sheet-metal side for the passage of the severed stalk-heads. Secured to the lower front side of the board is a bearing-bracket 25, having an integral shaft 26, upon which is rotatably mounted a pulley 27. This pulley is operated by an endless belt 28, driven by a smaller pulley 29, keyed to a shaft 30,Which is journaled in bearings 31 and 32, secured to the upper end of board 24 and the floor of the elevator, as shown by Fig. 2.

The outer surface of belt 28 is provided with a series of arms 33 for drawing the upper ends of the stalks against the knife and to assist in elevating them into the wagon after being severed.

34 indicates a small pulley keyed to the lower end of shaft 30. It is operated by an endless belt 34*,driven by a pulley 35, keyed to the upper end of a shaft 36, rotatably mounted in a bearing 37, secured to the lower end of the elevator-floor. Pulley 35 has finger-like projections 35 on its upper portion to engage the heads of the stalks and assist in drawing them against the edge of the knife. The outer surface of belt 34 is also-provided with notched arms 34, which assist in drawing the heads of the stalks against the knife and elevating the severed portions into the wagon. By notching the under surface of arms 34 the stalks are engaged by the fingerlike projections thus formed and brought squarely against the knife for severence.

In order to impart rigidity to the frame of the elevator, I secure the upper end of its sheet-metal side to the upper end of the guidebar 14 with a bar 38 and its lower portion to the lower terminal of the guide-bar by a metallic frame 39, provided with depending portions 39 near its opposite ends.

40 40 indicate longitudinal gathering-arms secured at their rear terminals to the lower portion of the elevator. Said arms extend forward a suitable distance and gradually spread apart at their front ends to receive the stalks and guide them against the cutting edge of the knife.

As the height of Kafir-cornoftenvaries in different fields,it is obvious that the frame carrying the elevator and knife must be raised or lowered to accommodate them to said variations. I prefer'to perform this by the adjust ing mechanism shown by Fig. 1', which consists of a chain 41, secured at its rear end to 'bolt 42, which secures the lower terminal of guide-bar 14 to the adjacent depending arm 39 of frame 39. Said chain passes upwardly over a pulley 43, journalcd in the stationary frame, and then extends forward to a segment 44, pivotally secured to said frame by a bolt 45. The periphery of the segment is grooved to receive the chain and is also provided at its lower end with an integral hook 46, to which the forward terminal of the chain is attached.

To facilitate the operation of the segment, I secure a lever 47 thereto. Said lever extends upwardly and terminates in a' handle 48 within easy reach of the driver and is held at any desired angle by the usual pawl mechanism, which engages a segmental ratchet 49, provided with integral ears 50, having openings to receive the bolts which secure them to the forward portion of the stationary frame.

From the foregoing description of the ad justing'mechanism it will be understood that when lever 47 is lowered the reciprocating frame and parts attached will slide upwardly on tracks 4 and 5 of the stationary frame and when the position of said lever is reversed the reciprocating frame will slide downwardly on the tracks by force of gravity.

51 indicates a shaft journaled in bearings 52, secured in the depending arms 39 of frame 39. Loosely mounted upon said shaft is a sprocket-wheel 53, having an integral hub 54, extending on opposite sides thereof. One side of said hub is provided with teeth adapted to engage with and be driven by the teeth of a clutch 55, adjustably secured to the shaft by a set-screw 56, the end of which enters a longi tudinal groove 57 in said shaft. The opposite side of the hub is provided with a peripheral groove 58 to receive the forked end of ashifterbar 59, adjustably secured at its upper end to a longitudinal bar 60, slidably arranged in the looped ends of guide-bars 6-1, which are secured to the upper portion of frame 39. Bar 60 is provided with a series of holes 62 to permit the lateral adjustment of the shifterbar. It also has a short bar or finger-like projection 62, which extends over the top of frame 39, where it may be engaged by a lever 63, fulcrumed to the top of said frame. The forward end of the bar 62 is provided with an opening to receive one end of a retractile spring 64, the opposite end of which is secured to bar 16 of the stationary frame for the purpose of normally holding the toothed end of the sprocket-wheel hub in engagement with the clutch.

'66 indicates a bevel-gear keyed to the outer end of shaft 51 and engaging a similar gearwheel 65, keyed to the lower end of shaft 36 for the purpose of driving the elevator pulleys and belts. When the machine is passing to and from the field and it is undesirable to have said belts and pulleys in operation, the sprocket-wheel is thrown out of engagement with clutch 55 by lever 63, which forces bar 60, carrying the shifter, back against the.

action of the retractile spring. Sprocketwheel 53 is driven by an endless sprocket- -chain 67, operating over a sprocket-rim 68,

which is secured by clips 69 to the spokes of one of the rear wheels of the wagon. When own weight, loosely mounted on shaft 71, which is secured in the rear terminals of arms 72. The enlarged forward portion of arms 72 are circular in form and are concentrically bored to loosely fit over the hub of sprocketwheel 53 in order to permit the idler to rise or fall with the chain 67.

As the wheels of different makes of Wagons often stand out farther from the sides of the wagon-body than others, I simply unscrew the set-screw 56 and release the shifter-bar from sliding bar 60 and slide the sprocketwheel laterally, together with the clutch and shifter-bar, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, until said sprocket-wheel is in line with the sprocket-rim 68, when I secure the clutch and shifter, as above mentioned.

Having thus describedv my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a Kafir-corn header, the combination of a vehicle, and a mechanism carried thereby, consisting of a cutter and an endless elevator for raising the severed heads, with a j shaft geared to the elevator, a clutch on said shaft, a driven sprocket-wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with acompanion clutch, a retractile spring for holding the clutches in engagement, a slide-bar provided with a projection and a forked shifter engaging the sprocket-wheel, and a lever to engage said projection and force and hold the clutches out of engagement, substantially as described.

2. In a Kafir-corn header, the combination of a Wheeled vehicle, a corn-cutter and endless elevator carried thereby; a transverse frame at one side of the vehicle; a shaft j ournaled therein and geared to the elevator; a clutch member longitudinally movable, but not rotatable, on said shaft; a sprocket-wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, and geared to a wheel of the vehicle, and provided with a companion clutch-face; a spring-actuated Y the stationary frame; a horizontal bar secured atfits rear end to the guide-bar, and extending forwardly and loosely embracing the forward track of the stationary frame; a vertical bar extending upwardly from the horizontal bar, a transverse bar extending from the upper terminal of the vertical bar across to the guide-bar, and a brace-bar extending obliquely from the upper end of the vertical bar down to the forward end of the horizontal bar, substantially as shown.

4. A Kafir-corn header, consisting of a plurality of bars hooked to the side of a vehicle, and a top bar and intersecting barsto brace the same, in combination with a sliding frame embodying a bar clipped to the upright bars of the stationary frame, a horizontal bar secured thereto and formed With a hook at one end engaging loosely a second bar of said stationary frame, and a cutting and elevat ing mechanism carried by the adjustable frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. HART.

WVitnesses: JOHN T. DENTON, W. A. ,DILLEY. 

